Most of the times, the analysis of geopolitics and national interests are often couched in "my-transgressions-are-strategy-yours-are-machiavellian-actions" language. So, when Pakistan uses Kashmir as a whipping rod against India and kills both Hindus as well as Muslims - its bad from the Indian side and a matter of Muslim pride for Pakistan. When India responds with its Army and hits back and in the process tramples the Muslims, while Hindus just move out as no one even protects them - then it is India's pride and in Pakistan its like all hell has broken lose! Fact is that both sides are just trying to move on the chess-board and playing their games. Bringing morality into this chess world is so facetious. 1980s This was a decade when whatever move that Pakistan played was right in every way. On the other hand, India ended up on the losing side consistently. Pakistan not only used Soviet War to build a powerful ally in Taliban in Afghanistan, but do three things right for themselves: - Make China their strongest ally and provide with a launching pad against India to them - Fund and empower Sikh terrorist and make Khalistan a serious issue for India - Step up the Kashmir issue. Operation Bluestar, although one of the most difficult events in India's religious history since independence was prompted by a last-minute nation saving move from India. Pakistan forces were ready on the border, and Bhinderanwala et al were ready to annouce freedom for Khalistan. If the next morning had come uninterrupted, everything above Punjab would have been almost gone! What Pakistan's Army had attempted to do in 1965 - cut India's throat from that Punjab strip - was finally to come true, so they thought. If, and huge if, that night Russian intelligence had not helped India by playing a tape with the planning of the impending doom! And Indira went on offensive... But that move turned to have very complicated future ramifications. India's failed attempts at taking measure of Pakistan were frustrating! From courting Najibullah to helping Northern Alliance - we consistently bet on the wrong horse. Now, if you keep fighting the wrong battles, and someone else wins, then so bad for you!! There was a need to stop Taliban and weaken it and possibly have a better relations with US to force Pakistan's hand to give up their support of Taliban post Soviet war, but it never happened. 1990s This was the decade of complete turnaround! A few serendipitous things occured: - Zia-ul-Haq, the real grand-master of Pakistan's stable, died. - India's technological industry started preparing itself for Y2K and finally made a killing! It was a god-send and never has ever a situation been used so well as Y2K was. That was the turning point. Suddenly, notwithstanding what the US diplomats wanted, Jack Welch's one small gamble changed the entire game in this region. If Rajiv Gandhi had not been visionary enough to start a whole new area and if that visit to see DLF's Singh hadn't happened?! - Punjab's terrorism was put a plug on by ruthlessness never seen before and probably the first time that a terrorist movement was finished by force! - BJP came to the scene as a viable option and threw out the age-old useless and archaic policies of Congress that were at the basis of India's failure in 1980s! It opened upto Israel and still engaged the Arab world, it did the Nuke blasts to bring out the closet Nuke trade between Pakistan and China and still engage with US and make Clinton and others realize their error of estimation! Soon, the old questions had changed! We were never same! So, the decade that had started with a low self-esteem India and highly proud Pakistan - and in fact the latter had a higher per-cpaita GDP than India, ended with a complete reversal. What was to come would even change the game further! Read more